News & Notes

​Maritime Transportation System Information Sharing and Analysis Organization: CharlestonMTS-ISAO: CharlestonSITUATIONCyber threats are increasing at an alarming rate. Recent reports indicate that the number of data records taken from companies more than doubled in 2016, and while the majority of cyber crime is financially motivated, attacks with a political or terrorist motivation are growing. Recently a confidential report from MARAD identified a ransomware attack (malicious software that encrypts computers until a ransom is paid) to multiple systems on a U.S. ship, and there are increasing reports of cyberattacks on ICS platforms in many industries.Charleston is very strategic from both a commercial and military standpoint, ranked eighth in the US for container volume and home to multiple military transportation units. South Carolina is in a natural position to lead in developing cyber community defenses to protect these assets.

RESPONSEWhile every organization must provide their own cyber defenses, community defense - where entities with a common interest band together to share information about observed threats and responses - are growing. These communities, called ISAOs, were enabled by legislation and presidential directive. MASC is proposing such an organization to improve the cyber defense of South Carolina’s maritime sector and the related transportation community. Grant funding is being pursued to support the start-up, and the vision is for the community to become self-sustaining as it matures.